Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-05-13

tent, Of course, noticed him, and uttered a
facetious remark after the manne- In which
most of the Scarlet Lancers were accus-
toned to address the sharp-tongued, anus
Ing little circus wait.
"Ello, young Houp-LA What may You
b ADDING Off
Il amt ADDING Of nothing" retorted
young HoupLa, c4viily, ''excspt awaiting
Of my master, Capt'n Ferrers who you SEE
s-going into the colonel's quarters jss
now"
Tbs sentry laughed and wheeled round on
his allotted twenty yards Of sentry-go, never
dreaming Of ordering young Tom OF, for he
was generally considered in the regiment as
q thing of naught, beyond the fact of his be-
ing favorits protege Of Capt. Ferrsra
SO there he remained, and there, with his
sharp young ears pressed close to little dis
crepancy In the canvas, which protsc, = the
officer commanding the Scarlet Lancers
from the MI ht dsws and damps, Tom Snow,
the circus waif. became cognizant # and
acquainted with the details aud particulars
Of one OF the most important and dangerous
missions which was intrusted to or Q ,cepted
by any one Of the officers and men v o car
ried her majesty's Uniform into the land Of
the Phara0hs in the campaign At 81
his master and the three gray-hairsd of ,srs
whom he found there.
1t was not only q very difficult, but very
dangerous elrand which Capt TerTerS had
bean chosen to perform. Tho order was
given in the simplest and mott soldierly
words, and SO young Tom was able to gather
its exact meaning as clearly a. Bottles him
self could do. In substance it was to cCavey
q certain paper, written in cypher, to the
officer commanding body Of troops lying
about five miles from the Scarlet LAncerI
camp, which was but a short distance from
the town of Abu-Gcum, held by strong
force Of the rebels, under the command 81
Arab himself.
To reach the other British camp the envoy
must pass almost through the rebel lines,
else he would find himself close under the
walls Of Abu-Goum on the one hand, or in
volved in the swamps which skirted the mar
gin Of Lake Goum on the other.
The general impressed upon Boobies the
need for caution and dispatch Is he intrusted
the paper to his hands, not without first
making him exactly acquainted with in
contents in case Of accident BY the way. 90
that if the paper were damaged or rendered
iIeRible he might not reach the other camp
in ignorance of his mission.
And young Tom heard it all-every wordl
Not only heard, but sawl Saw the general
give the paper-saw his master place it in a
smau pocket book Of brown leather aud bow
himself out. after silent grip Of the hands
outstretched to him-saw then that he left the
tent and went hastily in tho direction Of his
own-and, seeing that, the circus wait rose
up from bis post Of observation and followed
him swiftly.
When be reached Capt. Ferrers' tent he
found his master bending over . bran-
bound box which stood In one corner Of it
box which Tom know contained his N
volverA
rs that you, Tomr he asked.
''Yessir," answered Tom, with q salutA
and advancing into tho middle Of the tent
Take my flask round to the mess tent and
got 1t filed with brandy-and b quick"
"Yeasir." said Tom.
He never hedtatsd an instant what n
should do. The moment be entered the tent
be had seen that on the chest which formed
~ masters table Capt yerrers bad laid
down the brown leather pocket book which
contained tbs all-important dispatch.
Quick q thought Tom snatched 1t up With
The TASK and ran out; once outside, he threw
the flask 10 The winds and made for the cut.
post&
It was not difficult for him to pass them;
on the contrary, in truth, be simply threw
himself nat upon his stomach, and, by
means Of the snake trick ON which he had %
prided himself Of old, wriggled past the
lessness Of IN Indian scout Having pissed
the Last one b took the pocket book frum
between his teeth, where he had carried IL
for safety, and folding the precious dispatch
neatly to half it, former sise, consigned II
to little pocket within tho breast Of his
scarlet and black striped waistcoat, one
which had been put there by Capt. Ferrers'
orders, % that the lad might carry q few
shillings in safety, and without fear Of being
relieved Of itby pdckpocketA
Then he threw The book away, and with Z
last look in thu direction Of tho camp, turned
bis face toward the i've miles Of difficulty
and danger which lay between him and thu
mission which he bad taken upon himself
nay. which b had in reality stolsn from
him to whom Il had besn intrusted-
dincult because Of tho inky darkness
Of tho night, and Of his ignorance o.
tho surrounding country IAN Ignorance
which his master would greatly have less
ened by means Of Q compass and plan, two
articles Of which Tom had not thought
dangerous, because almost every yard Of tn
way bristled with rebel muskets, every pos
and point was guarded and watched b.
vigilant rebel troops.
But the lads brave spirit never failed hin
for IN instant. He had not stood upon tn
trapess platform and looked grim dealt
hard in the face to be faint Of heart now
when he needed all his courage
he never thought Of ths harm he Nigh
b doing, stin les of the risk he was run
ning-only that his master, tho captain, has
besn sent On this errand Of danger and tina
be. owing to bis small sise and elasticity o
joint and muscle, and the particular form
Of training which b bad undergone In th
circus. could easily 60 in safety where hi
master could not expect to escape detection
nay, whore he very we'll knew his maste
could not escape with his lifs.
Il was on for . moment that be stoot
looking back upon tho camp, which shel
Tered all b loved on earth; be cou.d hea
The steady and measured tramp Of the sen
tries close at hand; he could rec tho LOT
distant lights. Then mist Of tears blurres
the picture he dashed his hand across hi
eyes, plunged into the darknsss. and va
gonA